The Accounting Podcast

What do tariffs, war, AI agents, and a collapsed accounting startup have in common? This week, Blake and David connect the dots between rising economic pressure and rapid tech change. They break down the lopsided cost of drone warfare, small businesses getting crushed by tariffs, AI tools handling tax and bookkeeping tasks, and new details on Botkeeper’s collapse. You’ll hear what these shifts could mean for accountants, firms, and the future of the profession. Sponsors UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Chapters Show Notes Iran's Drones Cost a Fraction of the U.S. Weapons Shooting Them Down https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/business/iran-drones-us-weapons-cost.html Introducing GPT-5.4 https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-5-4/ Breaking Up with TurboTax: How I Used Claude to File My Taxes for Free https://kachess.dev/taxes/ai/personal-finance/2026/02/27/breaking-up-with-turbotax.html Show HN: Claude Skill to Do Your Taxes https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47277164 Enrico Palmerino Explains Botkeeper's Fall https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/enrico-palmerino-explains-botkeepers-fall Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Has an AI Clone https://www.fastcompany.com/91500087/uber-ceo-dara-khosrowshahi-has-an-ai-clone KPMG-Audited Companies Are Trading Strangely on Polymarket https://eventwaves.substack.com/p/kpmg-audited-companies-are-trading Zapier Updates: AI Guardrails & Governance Controls https://zapier.com/blog/february-2026-product-updates/ Record Numbers of Workers Are Raiding Their 401(k) Savings https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/retirement/401k-hardship-withdrawals-record-vanguard-2025 For Some Small Businesses, a Tariff Refund Isn't Worth the Pain of Pursuing It https://finance.yahoo.com/news/small-businesses-tariff-refund-isnt-worth-pain-pursuing-it.html Trump's IRS Lawsuit Offers Lessons on Privacy and Legal Process https://news.bloombergtax.com/tax-insights-and-commentary/trumps-irs-lawsuit-offers-lessons-on-privacy-and-legal-process Democrats Unveil Bill to Resurrect Direct File https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/democrats-unveil-bill-to-resurrect-direct-file I.R.S. Tactics Against Meta Open a New Front in the Corporate Tax Fight https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/24/business/irs-meta-tax-ireland.html IRS Should Open Trump Accounts for Eligible Children Automatically, AICPA Says https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2026/feb/irs-should-open-trump-accounts-for-eligible-children-automatically-aicpa-says/ NASBA Urges U.S. Department of Education to Restore "Professional" Status for Accounting Degrees https://nasba.org/blog/2026/03/05/status-for-accounting-degrees/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch

Can an AI prep a partnership return on its own? Blake and David dig into Basis’s $100M unicorn claim, Intuit’s OpenAI/Anthropic tie-ups and Claude Cowork, and what it means for firms. They also cover how to capitalize on tariff refund lawsuits, the Senate’s push to regulate tax preparers, and the SEC weighing twice-a-year reporting—plus a quick warning about the fake “IRS locker” scam. You’ll learn where AI helps now, what to watch, and how to advise clients. Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters Show Notes Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump's Sweeping Tariffs https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-strikes-trumps-tariffs-major-blow-president-rcna244827 Trump's New Tariffs Under Section 122 Are Probably Also Illegal https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/01/business/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-section-122 1,800+ Companies Suing for $130 Billion in Tariff Refunds https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/1800-companies-are-suing-for-130b-in-tariff-refunds/503034 AI-for-Accounting Startup Basis Hits $1.15 Billion Valuation https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-24/ai-for-accounting-startup-basis-hits-1-15-billion-valuation Intuit and Anthropic Partner to Bring Custom AI Agents to Consumers and Businesses https://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1305/intuit-and-anthropic-partner-to-bring-trusted-financial-intelligence-and-custom-ai-agents-to-consumers-and-businesses Intuit Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-transcripts/2026/02/26/intuit-intu-q2-2026-earnings-call-transcript/ IBM Shares Plunge as Anthropic Touts COBOL Modernization Efforts https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/23/ibm-is-the-latest-ai-casualty-shares-are-tanking-on-anthropic-cobol-threat.html AI Won't Replace Accounting Platforms — It Will Make Them More Important https://diginomica.com/ai-wont-replace-accounting-platforms-it-will-make-them-more-important Audit Enforcement Plummeted Last Year https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/audit-enforcement-plummeted-last-year Senate Finance Committee Proposes to Regulate Tax Preparers, Improve IRS Administration https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/senate-finance-committee-proposes-to-regulate-tax-preparers-improve-irs-administration SEC to Fast-Track Proposal for Semi-Annual Public Company Reporting https://www.cohenmilstein.com/sec-to-propose-rule-easing-financial-reporting-frequency-from-quarterly-to-semiannual/ Tax Nerd Bets Life Savings Against DOGE on Kalshi — and Wins https://techcrunch.com/2026/02/25/an-accountant-won-a-big-jackpot-on-kalshi-by-betting-against-doge/ Should We Be Concerned That More Than Half of New CPA Licenses in Washington State Went to International Candidates? https://www.goingconcern.com/should-we-be-concerned-that-more-than-half-of-new-cpa-licenses-issued-in-this-state-last-year-went-to-international-candidates/ IRS Failed to Equip New Hires in 2024 https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-failed-to-equip-new-hires-in-2024 South Korean Crypto Exchange Bithumb Accidentally Gives Away $40+ Billion in Bitcoin https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/07/south-korean-crypto-firm-accidentally-sends-out-44-billion-in-bitcoin.html Michigan Man Loses $1 Million in IRS Impersonation Scam https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/23/michigan-man-loses-1-million-in-irs-scam/178591/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcas...

SCOTUS just struck down Trump’s global tariffs—so who gets the $133B back, and how can firms capture advisory fees helping clients claim refunds? Blake and David unpack importer-of-record refunds, contingency-fee questions, and why “that’s pure profit.” Plus: taxpayers’ trust in AI tax prep is falling, creators’ $205B economy is a prime niche, TurboTax’s Uber-to-the-office play, Big Law’s $3,400/hour AI squeeze, and Dawn Brolin’s nonprofit sending first-timers to conferences you can support. Sponsors Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters Show Notes Supreme Court Rules 6-3 That IEEPA Does Not Authorize the President to Impose Tariffs https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1287_4gcj.pdf Supreme Court Strikes Down Most of Trump's Tariffs in a Major Blow to the President https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-strikes-trumps-tariffs-major-blow-president-rcna244827 Supreme Court Strikes Down IEEPA Tariffs — What Now? https://www.wilmerhale.com/en/insights/client-alerts/20260220-supreme-court-strikes-down-ieepa-tariffs-what-now IRS Average Refunds Up $200 This Filing Season https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/taxpayers-hesitant-to-trust-ai-to-prepare-tax-returns Most Taxpayers Trust Tax Pros Over AI for Tax Preparation, Survey Finds https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/19/most-taxpayers-trust-tax-pros-over-ai-for-tax-preparation-survey-finds/178412/ Online Creators Worried About Finances and Income Taxes — A Growing Opportunity for Tax and Accounting Pros https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/19/online-creators-worried-about-finances-and-income-taxes-a-growing-opportunity-for-tax-accounting-pros/178423/ Intuit TurboTax Delivers the Ultimate "Done-For-You" Tax Experience Powered by AI and Human Intelligence With Uber Rides https://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1304/intuit-turbotax-delivers-the-ultimate-done-for-you-tax-experience-powered-by-ai-and-human-intelligence-with-uber-rides US Companies Pay More Taxes Abroad Than Here https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/us-companies-pay-more-taxes-abroad-than-here IRS Falls Far Short on Paperless Processing Goal https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-falls-far-short-on-paperless-processing-goal Will the OBBBA Gambling Deduction Change Be Reversed? https://www.natptax.com/news-insights/blog/will-the-obbba-gambling-deduction-change-be-reversed/ Kim Kardashian's Clothing Company Settles New Jersey Sales Tax Allegations https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/01/20/kim-kardashians-clothing-company-settles-new-jersey-sales-tax-allegations/176590/ Big Tech Accounting Creates a Blind Spot in the AI Boom https://news.futunn.com/en/post/68828373/big-tech-accounting-creates-a-blind-spot-in-the-ai KPMG Partner in Australia Fined Over Using AI to Pass AI Test https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/02/16/kpmg-partner-in-australia-fined-over-using-ai-to-pass-ai-test/ Lawmakers Seek to Penalize DoD if It Fails to Pass a Clean Audit https://federalnewsnetwork.com/congress/2026/02/lawmakers-seek-to-penalize-dod-if-it-fails-to-pass-a-clean-audit/ New Hubstaff Research Finds Workers Average Only 2–3 Hours of Focus Time Per Day

Which accounting firms really deliver sane hours and happy teams? Dom Piscopo (Big Four Transparency) reveals this year’s best—and worst—by job satisfaction and hours, including surprising outliers. Blake and David also unpack how AI startups are carving up PwC-style services, why Hazel AI rattled wealth managers and Intuit/Xero stocks, and where GLs still hold a moat. Plus, a practical way to use AI for W‑4/withholding—and an accountant’s take on Carvana’s too-good-to-be-true margins. Sponsors OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc FutureViews System - http://accountingpodcast.promo/bez Chapters Show Notes Valentine's Day Spending Expected to Reach New Records https://nrf.com/media-center/press-releases/valentine-s-day-spending-expected-to-reach-new-records Survey: Most Couples Keep At Least Some Of Their Money Separate https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/couples-finances/ Survey: 2 In 5 Americans In A Relationship Have Kept A Financial Secret From Their Partner https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/news/financial-infidelity-survey-2025/ AI Tax App Crashes Financial Stocks on Wall Street https://cpatrendlines.com/2026/02/10/ai-tax-app-crashes-financial-stocks-on-wall-street/ Americans Are Asking AI for Money Advice, But Should They Trust It? https://www.bestmoney.com/financial-advisor/learn-more/do-americans-trust-fin-ai 82% trust AI for financial information and guidance https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/82-trust-ai-for-financial-information-and-guidance Intuit Is Down 33% Year to Date. Here's Where the Stock Could Be Headed in 2026 https://www.tikr.com/blog/intuit-is-down-33-year-to-date-heres-where-the-stock-could-be-headed-in-2028 Intuit Stock Is Down 24% Already In 2026. Time to Buy? https://www.fool.com/investing/2026/01/30/intuit-stock-is-down-24-already-in-2026-time-to-bu/ Xero (ASX:XRO) Shares Crash 13% in Tech Selloff—Broker Urges Hold https://kalkine.com.au/news/technology/xero-asxxro-shares-crash-13-in-tech-selloffbroker-urges-hold Xero share price slides 14% in a week — what to watch next for ASX:XRO https://ts2.tech/en/xero-share-price-slides-14-in-a-week-what-to-watch-next-for-asxxro/ I've tested and ranked the 10 best vibe coding tools in 2026 https://www.techradar.com/pro/best-vibe-coding-tools Your Complete Guide To Vibe Coding Tools In 2026: Build Apps Just By Talking To AI https://softtechhub.us/2026/02/11/guide-to-vibe-coding/ AI startup Replit launches feature to vibe code mobile apps https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/15/ai-startup-replit-launches-feature-to-vibe-code-mobile-apps.html Vibe coding - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibe_coding What's actually driving Carvana's margins? https://www.cfo.com/news/whats-actually-driving-carvana-margins-ernie-garcia-drivetime-bridgecrest-zach-shefska-ray-shefska-/810911/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsori...

What happens when AI starts cutting audit bills? Blake and David unpack KPMG’s push for a 14% fee cut from Grant Thornton, Botkeeper’s shutdown versus Pilot’s “AI accountant,” and how agents like Claude are already doing real client work. You’ll hear why entry-level roles are vanishing, what tax pros need to know about the IRS’s new e-payment push and Tax Pro Account upgrades, plus a fun detour: DJ John Summit’s Tax Day album. Sponsors UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Chapters Show Notes KPMG pressed its auditor to pass on AI cost savings https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/02/06/kpmg-pressed-its-auditor-to-pass-on-ai-cost-savings/ Botkeeper is Closing Its Doors https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/09/botkeeper-is-closing-its-doors/177677/ Botkeeper shuts down https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/botkeeper-shuts-down Anthropic AI Tool Sparks Selloff From Software to Broader Market https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-03/legal-software-stocks-plunge-as-anthropic-releases-new-ai-tool AI fears pummel software stocks: Is it 'illogical' panic or a SaaS apocalypse? https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/06/ai-anthropic-tools-saas-software-stocks-selloff.html Pilot launches fully autonomous AI bookkeeper https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pilot-launches-fully-autonomous-ai-bookkeeper Pilot Rolls Out Fully Autonomous AI Accountant https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/04/pilot-rolls-out-fully-autonomous-ai-accountant/177453/ Pilot Unveils AI Accountant https://pilot.com/blog/pilot-unveils-ai-accountant-a-major-leap-toward-artificial-general-intelligence-in-accounting Startup Accrual Officially Launches with $75M in Funding to Bring AI-Native Automation to Accounting https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/05/startup-accrual-officially-launches-with-75m-in-funding-to-bring-ai-native-automation-to-accounting/177600/ Tax platform Accrual launches with AI automation support for all forms https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/tax-platform-accrual-launches-with-ai-automation-support-for-all-forms Accrual Launches with $75 Million to Bring AI-Native Automation to Accounting https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260205968515/en/Accrual-Launches-with-$75-Million-to-Bring-AI-Native-Automation-to-Accounting Goldman Sachs leads $75 million funding round for Fieldguide, an AI-native accounting and audit platform https://fortune.com/2026/02/02/goldman-sachs-fieldguide-accounting-cpa-ai-software-platform-venture-capital/ Fieldguide Raises $75M Series C Round to Boost Audit and Advisory Firms' Agentic AI Capabilities https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/02/fieldguide-raises-75m-series-c-round-to-boost-audit-and-advisory-firms-agentic-ai-capabilities/177323/ Fieldguide Raises $75M Series C from Goldman Sachs to Help Audit and Advisory Firms Grow with Agentic AI https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/02/04/3232133/0/en/Pilot-Unveils-AI-Accountant-A-Major-Leap-Toward-Artificial-General-Intelligence-in-Accounting.html Trump, two sons, Trump Org sue IRS, Treasury for $10 billion over tax records leak https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/29/trump-sues-irs-and-treasury-for-10-billion-over-leak-of-tax-records.html Trump sues IRS and Treasury Department for $10 billion over leaked tax records https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-sues-irs-treasury-department-10-billion-leaked-tax-records-rcna256626 Trump Sues Treasury and IRS for $10 Billion Over Tax Data Leak https://www.taxnotes.com/featured-news/trump-sues-treasury-and-irs-10-billion-over-tax-data-leak/2026/01/30/7txmz KPMG Brings Aboard AI Development Platform PrivateBlok https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/02/09/kpmg-adds-ai-development-platform-privateblok/177729/ KPMG acquires PrivateBlok, team will support AI...

Could AI wipe out half of entry-level accounting roles? Blake and David recount a brazen “courier scam” on David’s porch to unpack how deepfakes and spoofed calls fuel today’s fraud (“less than 10% can tell AI video from real”). You’ll learn practical controls—family code words, approval workflows—plus hands-on AI updates: Claude’s Excel plugin and desktop agent, Gusto payroll in ChatGPT, and a prompt that forces AI to ask clarifying questions and wait for “go.” Sponsors UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc EarmarkCPE - http://accountingpodcast.promo/earmark OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Chapters Show Notes AI fakery turbo-charging fraud, cyber attacks https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ai-fakery-turbo-charging-fraud-cyber-attacks The Turing Reel https://runwayml.com/research/theturingreel The Adolescence of Technology https://www.darioamodei.com/essay/the-adolescence-of-technology Long-term Fears Build As 60% of U.S. Workers Say AI Will Cut More Jobs Than It Adds In 2026 https://allwork.space/2026/01/long-term-fears-build-as-60-of-u-s-workers-say-ai-will-cut-more-jobs-than-it-adds-in-2026/ ADP® Accelerates AI Leadership with Launch of New AI Agents Designed to Solve Workforce Challenges https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/adp-accelerates-ai-leadership-with-launch-of-new-ai-agents-designed-to-solve-workforce-challenges-302672772.html Exclusive: Gusto launching payroll inside ChatGPT https://www.thisweekinfintech.com/exclusive-gusto-launching-payroll-inside-chatgpt/ Trump DOT Plans to Use Google Gemini AI to Write Regulations https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-artificial-intelligence-google-gemini-transportation-regulations Intuit Launches New Career Pipeline Program to Empower the Next Generation of Accountants in the AI Era https://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1296/intuit-launches-new-career-pipeline-program-to-empower-the-next-generation-of-accountants-in-the-ai-era Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastshttps://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcasthttp://cloudacctpod.link/Spotifyhttp://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Stitcherhttp://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Are you accidentally breaking CPA rules across state lines? Guest Lindsay Patterson, CPA CIA breaks down the new mobility landscape after alternative licensure paths—and the surprising data firms must track to avoid fines, failed peer reviews, and redoing audits. Plus: Congress’s Fiscal State of the Nation bill, Deloitte’s PR storm, QuickBooks’ AI reconciliation, and what’s driving a rebound in accounting majors. Walk away knowing where to get licensed, what triggers penalties, and how to protect your firm. Sponsors TaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbandits Earmark - http://accountingpodcast.promo/earmark OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters Meet Lindsay Patterson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsaypatterson/ Show Notes AICPA Urges Congressional Support for Fiscal State of the Nation Act https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-urges-congressional-support-for-fiscal-state-of-the-nation-act Barr Reintroduces Bipartisan Fiscal State of the Nation Act to Strengthen Oversight of Government Spending https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?id=EDF451C5-EEAE-44D7-85A8-2B714E9D7822 For CPAs, one license — and 55 rulebooks https://www.accountingtoday.com/opinion/for-cpas-one-license-and-55-rulebooks Deloitte's Disturbing Pattern Allegedly Cost Americans Health Coverage, Delayed Benefits, and the US Government $74B https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/deloittes-disturbing-pattern-allegedly-cost-americans-health-coverage-delayed-benefits-us-1773010 Deloitte to ramp up India operations with 50,000 new hires https://www.internationalaccountingbulletin.com/news/deloitte-hiring-india/ PCAOB Sanctions Audit Firm, an Owner of That Firm, and a Former Audit Manager for Multiple Violations of PCAOB Rules and Standards https://pcaobus.org/news-events/news-releases/news-release-detail/pcaob-sanctions-audit-firm--an-owner-of-that-firm--and-a-former-audit-manager-for-multiple-violations-of-pcaob-rules-and-standards PCAOB bars Zwick CPA, owner and manager https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaob-bars-zwick-cpa-owner-and-manager Turnover Experiences in Public Accounting and Alumni's Decisions to 'Give Back' https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4266300 U.S. Accounting Undergraduate Enrollment Rises for Third Straight Year https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-accounting-undergraduate-enrollment-rises-for-third-straight-year-302665511.html Accounting undergrad enrollment rises for third year https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/accounting-undergrad-enrollment-rises-for-third-year Capital One to Acquire Brex https://investor.capitalone.com/news-releases/news-release-details/capital-one-acquire-brex Capital One is buying startup Brex for $5.15 billion in credit card firm's latest deal https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/capital-one-is-buying-startup-brex-for-5point15-billion-in-credit-card-firms-latest-deal.html Florida Republican candidate suggests 'sin tax' for OnlyFans creators https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/5691927-florida-governor-candidate-sin-tax/ Florida gubernatorial candidate proposes 50% "sin" tax on OnlyFans creators; top earner Sophie Rain pushes back https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-onlyfans-tax-proposal-james-fishback-sophie-rain/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website -...

Carla McCall shares insights on the challenges faced by the accounting profession, including workload, work-life balance, and the AICPA's role. She addresses misconceptions about the responsibilities of the AICPA, discusses her firm's approach to managing work hours and culture transformation, and highlights the need for creative solutions to attract new talent. The discussion also explores the systemic issue of overwork in large accounting firms and the potential measures that could alleviate these pressures. Meet Our Guest, Carla McCall https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlamccallaaf/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastshttps://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcasthttp://cloudacctpod.link/Spotifyhttp://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Stitcherhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast Classifieds Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Are we causing our own busy-season chaos? Blake and David break down a simple scheduling system that spreads tax work, trains clients, and slashes extensions. They debate Congress’s barcode bill vs. e-filing, unpack a poll showing GOP support for a millionaire’s tax, and ask what AI really changes when managers still have to review the bots. Plus: IRS CI’s latest wins, whistleblower e-filing, and a Britney tax fight. Sponsors Digits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/digits OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay TaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbandits UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters Show Notes Are Washingtonians Finally Ready for a State Income Tax? https://www.dhmresearch.com/are-washingtonians-finally-ready-for-a-state-income-tax/ Guess Who Supports a Millionaires Tax in Washington State? Republicans, Poll Finds https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/01/14/guess-who-supports-a-millionaires-tax-in-washington-state-republicans-poll-finds/176337/ Barometer: Firms Brace for a Tough Tax Season https://cpatrendlines.com/2025/10/01/barometer-firms-brace-for-a-tough-tax-season/ IRS Advisory Council blasts defunding of agency https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-advisory-council-blasts-defunding-of-agency IRS Advisory Council report defends workers, criticizes budget and staff cuts https://www.thetaxadviser.com/news/2026/jan/irs-advisory-council-report-defends-workers-criticizes-budget-and-staff-cuts/ Internal Revenue Service Advisory Council PUBLIC REPORT January 2026 https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p5316.pdf Lengthy grudge motivated Brown mass shooting, MIT professor killing: Sources https://abcnews.go.com/US/lengthy-grudge-motivated-brown-mass-shooting-mit-professor/story?id=128961044 A Reddit post helped find MIT and Brown shooting suspect. Here's what we know https://www.npr.org/2025/12/19/nx-s1-5649528/brown-mit-shooter-what-we-know Former SBA and IRS Employee Charged with Using Government Positions to Steal Millions from COVID Relief Programs https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga/pr/former-sba-and-irs-employee-charged-using-government-positions-steal-millions-covid Hampton woman accused of using federal jobs to steal pandemic relief funds https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/hampton-woman-accused-using-federal-jobs-steal-pandemic-relief-funds House advances bill to speed tax return processing via barcodes https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/house-advances-bill-to-speed-tax-return-processing-via-barcodes BARCODE Efficiency Act Brings Overdue Modernization to the IRS https://atr.org/barcode-efficiency-act-brings-overdue-modernization-to-the-irs/ Utah and Doctronic Announce Groundbreaking Partnership for AI Prescription Medication Renewals https://commerce.utah.gov/2026/01/06/news-release-utah-and-doctronic-announce-groundbreaking-partnership-for-ai-prescription-medication-renewals/ Utah allows nation's first AI drug prescriptions https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2026/01/07/utah-ai-drug-prescriptions-doctronic Nurses Continue to Lead in Honesty and Ethics Ratings https://news.gallup.com/poll/700736/nurses-continue-lead-honesty-ethics-ratings.aspx Americans' Ratings of U.S. Professions Stay Historically Low https://news.gallup.com/poll/655106/americans-ratings-professions-stay-historically-low.aspx Britney Spears disputes $600K tax claim https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/britney-spears-disputes-600k-tax-claim Britney Spears Fighting With IRS Over $600,000 https://www.tmz.com/2025/12/19/britney-spears-fighting-with-irs-taxes/ Right Now, Managing AI Agents is About as Much Work as Managing Humans. Just Different Work. https://www.saastr.com/right-now-managing-ai-agents-is-about-as-much-work-as-managing-humans/ The 'Godfather of SaaS' says he replaced most of his s...

Raids replaced audits, and guns replaced spreadsheets. Blake and David connect the dots from Minnesota's sprawling public-assistance fraud to a decade of IRS budget cuts and ICE crackdowns. You'll learn why enforcement shifted from prevention to raids, what California's one-time billionaire tax really proposes, how new AICPA rules could hit PE-backed firms, and why a botched audit didn't cost PwC its client, plus one pro tip to level up your Excel game. Sponsors OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay TaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbandits UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc Chapters Show Notes Judge hits pause on IRS sharing taxpayer information with ICE https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/judge-issues-order-blocking-irs-sharing-taxpayer-information-ice-rcna245262 Federal Agents Pepper Spray Protesters During Tucson Taco Giro Raid https://www.themarshallproject.org/2025/12/05/tucson-ice-raid-protests-taco-giro Poll: Nearly Half of Americans Think Their Financial Security Is Worsening https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2025/12/29/poll-nearly-half-of-americans-think-their-financial-security-is-worsening/175587/ California Billionaire Tax Act (2026 Billionaire Tax Act - PDF) https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/initiatives/pdfs/25-0024A1%20(Billionaire%20Tax%20).pdf Vrbo Parent Company Sues Michigan Over $18.8 Million Tax Bill https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2026/01/02/vrbo-parent-company-sues-michigan-over-18-8-million-tax-bill/175675/ AICPA Seeks Comment on Ethics Rules Update for Alternative Practice Structures https://www.aicpa-cima.com/news/article/aicpa-seeks-comment-on-ethics-rules-update-for-alternative-practice WH Smith asks shareholders to support PwC despite audit error https://www.internationalaccountingbulleteen.com/news/wh-smith-support-pwc-audit-error/ I won the Microsoft Excel World Championship. Here's what every office worker should know about Excel. https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/articles/won-microsoft-excel-world-championship-093001306.html Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastshttps://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcasthttp://cloudacctpod.link/Spotifyhttp://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Stitcherhttp://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Think AI will free you from ‘mundane bookkeeping’ so you can do advisory? Blake and David say it’s the opposite. Hear how owners already use AI as a de facto CFO, why drafting narratives—not matching bank feeds—is the real win, what the ‘AI premium’ means in a billable-hour world, and the two numbers firm owners should track in 2026: monthly recurring revenue and bottom-line profit. Sponsors UNC - http://accountingpodcast.promo/unc OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay TaxBandits - http://accountingpodcast.promo/taxbandits Chapters Show Notes These Small-Business Owners Are Putting AI to Good Use https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/small-business-ai-chatgpt-prompts-0c9a95c4 AI Thought Leaders Survey 2026: Process Predictions https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/ai-thought-leaders-survey-2026-process-predictions Tech Spending Outpacing People Spending as Firms Adopt AI https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/tech-spending-outpacing-people-spending-as-firms-adopt-ai How Much is the 'AI Premium?' https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/how-much-is-the-ai-premium AI Can't Replace Accountants. When Could It? https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/ai-cant-replace-accountants-when-could-it Accounting in 2026: The Year Ahead in Numbers https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/accounting-in-2026-the-year-ahead-in-numbers AI Vending Machine Lost $1,000 to Social Engineering https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/anthropic-ai-claude-vending-machine-c7baef6f Anthropic's Project Vend Phase 2 https://www.anthropic.com/research/project-vend-2 Trump Commutes Sentence of Private Equity CEO Convicted of Fraud https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/01/politics/david-gentile-trump-pardon Trump Commutes 7-Year Prison Sentence of Former Private Equity CEO David Gentile https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-commutes-7-year-prison-sentence-former-private-equity-ceo-david-rcna246744 California's Controversial Wealth Tax Proposal Leaves Billionaires With Little Way Out https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/08/california-wealth-tax-proposal-leaves-billionaires-with-little-way-out.html California Could Impose a Billionaire Tax. Here's How It Would Work https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-billionaire-tax-ballot-initiative-how-it-works/ New Tax on the Wealth of Billionaires https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2025-024 Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastshttps://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcasthttp://cloudacctpod.link/Spotifyhttp://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Stitcherhttp://cloudacctpod.link/OvercastWant to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

How does $95 million go missing at a bank—and still get a clean audit? Blake and David unpack the Evolve Bank/Synapse meltdown, what auditors missed, and how SOC reports fall short. Plus: the penny shortage pushing cash rounding at the register, the shocking stat that even 29% of partners don’t know partner pay, and the case for semiannual reporting. Walk away with practical takeaways for clients, staff, and your own firm. Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Chapters Show Notes Square Enables Penny Rounding https://squareup.com/us/en/press/penny-rounding CFPB Allocates $46 Million To Synapse/Evolve Victims In First-Ever Fintech Bailout https://fintechbusinessweekly.substack.com/p/cfpb-allocates-46-million-to-synapseevolve The 2025 Accounting Today Salary Survey https://www.accountingtoday.com/list/the-2025-accounting-today-salary-survey The Ultimate 2026 Accounting Salary Guide https://blog.workday.com/en-us/ultimate-2026-accounting-salary-guide.html Deloitte's CTO: companies are spending 93% on tech and only 7% on people and that has to change https://fortune.com/2025/12/15/deloitte-cto-bill-briggs-what-really-scares-ceos-about-ai-human-resources/ Accounting firm waited 18 months to announce breach https://cybernews.com/security/sax-data-breach-quarter-million-exposed/ Should Public Companies Move to Semi-Annual Reporting? https://www.cpajournal.com/2025/12/19/should-public-companies-move-to-semi-annual-reporting/ United States Mint Hosts Historic Ceremonial Strike for Final Production of the Circulating One-Cent Coin https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/united-states-mint-hosts-historic-ceremonial-strike-for-final-production-of-the-circulating-one-cent-coin Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastshttps://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcasthttp://cloudacctpod.link/Spotifyhttp://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Stitcherhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast Classifieds Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Is private equity turning firms into a 'dumpster fire'? Blake and David unpack Accounting Today's survey showing partners are upbeat while staff are sour on PE. They hit Andersen's $176M IPO, why Big Four ties to Big Tech raise independence questions, and how AI could finally kill the billable hour. Plus, what tax pros really charge in 2025 - and the wild 'Middle Finger Ranch' fraud. Sponsors OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Chapters Show Notes PE in accounting firms: From 'dumpster fire' to excitement https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pe-in-accounting-firms-from-dumpster-fire-to-excitement Andersen Group Shares Gain 47% After $176 Million US IPO https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-17/andersen-group-shares-jump-34-after-176-million-us-ipo Andersen goes public, hits $2.6B valuation https://thefinancestory.com/andersen-group-ipo-2-6b-valuation The Big Four consulting firms are embedded in Big Tech. Here's who audits each of the Magnificent 7 companies https://www.businessinsider.com/big-four-accounting-audits-magnificent-seven-financial-records-2025-12 What do tax preparers charge? https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/what-do-tax-preparers-charge How much do tax professionals charge in 2025? Insights from NATP's Fee Study https://www.natptax.com/news-insights/blog/how-much-do-tax-professionals-charge-in-2025-insights-from-natp-s-fee-study/ U.S. economic growth surges in third quarter to 4.3% https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/12/23/gdp-economy-consumer-spending/ The US economy expanded at the fastest pace in two years as wealthier Americans kept spending https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/23/economy/us-gdp-q3 Kansas accountant diverted family funds to fictitious 'Middle Finger Ranch' https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-accountant-diverted-family-funds-to-fictitious-middle-finger-ranch/ Kansas Accountant, Who Created Fictitious 'Middle Finger Ranch' for Fraud Scheme, Sentenced to 4 Years in Jail https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2025/12/04/kansas-accountant-who-created-fictitious-middle-finger-ranch-for-fraud-scheme-sentenced-to-4-years/174381/ PCAOB to tighten budget in 2026 https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/pcaob-to-tighten-budget-in-2026 PCAOB Approves 2026 Budget https://pcaobus.org/news-events/news-releases/news-release-detail/pcaob-approves-2026-budget Accounting Firms Must Stop Charging for Time https://cpatrendlines.com/2025/12/02/accounting-firms-must-stop-charging-for-time/ Dirty money gangster jailed over plot worth almost £12m https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/dirty-money-gangster-jailed-over-36410033 PCAOB Sanctions CPA for Violations Related to Audit Evidence and Her Former Audit Firm for Quality Control Issues https://pcaobus.org/news-events/news-releases/news-release-detail/pcaob-sanctions-cpa-for-violations-related-to-audit-evidence-and-her-former-audit-firm-for-quality-control-issues Ahead of Tax Filing Season, Warren, King, 15 Senators Warn of Tax Filing Chaos After Trump Admin Attacks on IRS https://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/ahead-of-tax-filing-season-warren-king-15-senators-warn-of-tax-filing-chaos-after-trump-admin-attacks-on-irs Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?&n...

Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Relay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/relay OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Chapters Show Notes The CPA and the Lawyer Who Served Jeffrey Epstein—and Control His Fortune and Secrets https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-cpa-and-the-lawyer-who-served-jeffrey-epstein-and-control-his-fortune-and-secrets Taking a gamble on prediction market taxation https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/taking-a-gamble-on-prediction-market-taxation Lawyer sues IRS to recognize pets as dependents https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/lawyer-sues-irs-to-recognize-pets-as-dependents SEC Charges Shiloh Luckey https://www.sec.gov/enforcement-litigation/litigation-releases/lr-26424 The FBI is investigating a startup founder accused of using VC money to pay for her house and a Caribbean wedding https://techstartups.com/2025/12/16/the-fbi-is-investigating-a-startup-founder-accused-of-spending-5-5-million-in-vc-funding-on-a-house-and-caribbean-wedding/ Intuit taps Circle's USDC to add stablecoin payments across TurboTax and QuickBooks https://www.theblock.co/post/383184/intuit-circle-usdc-stablecoin-payments-turbotax-quickbooks Intuit and Circle Partner to Unlock the Future of Money Movement with Stablecoins https://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1292/intuit-and-circle-partner-to-unlock-the-future-of-money-movement-with-stablecoins AI Is Reshaping Accounting Jobs by Doing the "Boring" Stuff https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/ai-reshaping-accounting-jobs-doing-boring-stuff Human + AI in Accounting: Early Evidence from the Field https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/working-papers/human-ai-accounting-early-evidence-field IRS-CI issues fiscal year 2025 annual report showcasing banner investigative results https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-ci-issues-fiscal-year-2025-annual-report-showcasing-banner-investigative-results IRS Criminal Investigation uncovers $10.6B in financial crimes https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/irs-criminal-investigation-uncovers-10-6b-in-financial-crimes Dext warns businesses over losses from ChatGPT-style financial advice https://fintech.global/2025/12/18/dext-warns-businesses-over-losses-from-chatgpt-style-financial-advice/ ChatGPT tax advice already costing UK firms, say accountants https://itbrief.co.uk/story/chatgpt-tax-advice-already-costing-uk-firms-say-accountants Trump admin to hire 1,000 specialists for 'Tech Force' to build AI, finance projects https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/15/trump-ai-tech-force-amazon-apple.html OPM Launches US Tech Force to Implement President Trump's Vision for Technology Leadership https://www.opm.gov/news/news-releases/opm-launches-us-tech-force-to-implement-president-trumps-vision-for-technology-leadership/ Double Raises $6.5 Million Series A from Album Ventures, Jack Altman, and Y Combinator to Double Accountants' Productivity https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251210027851/en/Double-Raises-$6.5-Million-Series-A-from-Album-Ventures-Jack-Altman-and-Y-Combinator-to-Double-Accountants-Productivity Zoho announces enterprise billing, spend management products https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/zoho-announces-enterprise-billing-spend-management-products Zoho Announces Zoho Spend and Zoho Billing Enterprise Edition https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251218170986/en/Zoho-Announces-Zoho-Spend-and-Zoho-Billing-Enterprise-Edition-Offering-Large-Businesses-Greater-Control-and-Flexibility-Over-Billing-Operations-and-Company-Spend-as-They-Scale AI giving scammers new tricks, enhancing old ones https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/ai-giving-scammers-new-tricks-enhancing-old-ones From secure to spooked: White-collar workers face rising job fears https://www.businessreport.com/article/from-secure-to-spooked-white-collar-workers-face-rising-job-fears

Will IRS agents have to watch OnlyFans to police the new “no tax on tips” deduction? Blake and David unpack the wild twist: a study showing that women-led audit teams deliver higher-quality work at lower fees, and why AI could finally kill the billable hour. They hit PCAOB’s AI/PE crackdown, KPMG’s AI exam cheating, AI‑written financial reports, Meta’s off‑balance‑sheet data center, the IRS Math Act, and new child investment accounts. Walk away with policy context and practical tech takeaways. Sponsors OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay ACFE - http://accountingpodcast.promo/acfe Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Chapters Show Notes Coming soon! Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastshttps://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcasthttp://cloudacctpod.link/Spotifyhttp://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Stitcherhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast Classifieds Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Are accountants no longer “professionals”? We unpack the DOE proposal that could slash grad loan limits—and what AICPA/NASBA plans to do about it. Plus: Deloitte’s AI-made citations, EY’s audit turnaround, PwC’s end‑to‑end AI audit ambitions, and OpenAI’s circular investment into accounting rollups. We also cover Xero’s new auto‑reconcile, Intuit’s small‑biz data ad play, and two practical wins: Google’s shared inboxes and unexpected networking tactics for landing that first job. Sponsors Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas ACFE - http://accountingpodcast.promo/acfe OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Chapters Show Notes Department of Education Accounting Professional Degree Classification https://www.newsweek.com/full-list-degrees-professional-trump-administration-11085695 Accountants Inexplicably Deemed "Not Professional" Under OBBBA Student Loan Rules https://www.goingconcern.com/accountants-inexplicably-deemed-not-professional-under-obba-student-loan-rules/ Department of Education Unclassifies Accounting as a Professional Degree https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2025/11/24/department-of-education-unclassifies-accounting-as-a-professional-degree/173875/ Deloitte allegedly cited AI-generated research in a million-dollar report for a Canadian provincial government https://fortune.com/2025/11/25/deloitte-caught-fabricated-ai-generated-research-million-dollar-report-canada-government/ Major N.L. healthcare report contains errors likely generated by A.I. https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/major-n-l-healthcare-report-contains-errors-likely-generated-by-a-i/ N.L. asks Deloitte to carry out review after 'incorrect' citations found in $1.6M provincial health plan https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/nl-deloitte-citations-9.6990216 OpenAI's investment into Thrive Holdings is its latest circular deal https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/01/openais-investment-into-thrive-holdings-is-its-latest-circular-deal/ Thrive-backed accounting firm Crete to spend $500 million in AI roll-up https://finance.yahoo.com/news/thrive-backed-accounting-firm-crete-130200467.html Crete PA plans $500 million spend to buy and upgrade accounting firms with AI https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/crete-pa-plans-500-million-spend-to-buy-and-upgrade-firms-with-ai OpenAI takes an ownership stake in Thrive Holdings to accelerate enterprise AI adoption https://openai.com/index/thrive-holdings/ Trump Tariffs: The Economic Impact of the Trump Trade War https://taxfoundation.org/research/all/federal/trump-tariffs-trade-war/ IEEPA Tariffs Are Down from April Threats https://taxfoundation.org/blog/ieepa-tariffs-rates-down-april-threats/ Intuit SMB MediaLabs Audiences Now Available on The Trade Desk Platform https://investors.intuit.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1288/intuit-smb-medialabs-audiences-now-available-on-the-trade-desk-platform-connecting-advertisers-with-small-and-mid-market-businesses Intuit SMB MediaLabs | Advertising Network https://medialabs.intuit.com/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe http://cloudacctpod.link/AppleP...

Do money talks make your family squirm more than politics? In this Thanksgiving mailbag, Blake and David dig into a Bankrate survey on taboo money chats, the grim 2026 grad job market, and the maze of CPA experience sign-offs after NASBA’s program vanished. You’ll hear practical career advice (big firm vs. small, starting bookkeeping), what AI can and can’t do for accountants today, plus news on audit partners’ outlook and tariff shifts hitting grocery bills. Sponsors OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Chapters Show Notes Companies Predict 2026 Will Be the Worst College Grad Job Market in Five Years https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/2026-graduates-job-market-7928bcd7 Survey: Americans would rather discuss politics or religion than what's in their bank accounts https://www.bankrate.com/banking/financial-taboos-survey/ Audit partners feel more optimistic about economy https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/audit-partners-feel-more-optimistic-about-economy Trump lowers tariffs on coffee, beef and fruits, as Americans' concerns about affordability grow https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/14/economy/lower-tariffs-coffee-beef-bananas-produce Georgia Accountant Arrested After Allegedly Tearing Down Trump Sign, Shooting at North Carolina Man's House https://www.cpapracticeadvisor.com/2025/10/24/georgia-accountant-arrested-after-allegedly-tearing-down-trump-sign-shooting-at-north-carolina-mans-house/171649/ Measuring AI Ability to Complete Long Tasks https://metr.org/blog/2025-03-19-measuring-ai-ability-to-complete-long-tasks/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastshttps://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcasthttp://cloudacctpod.link/Spotifyhttp://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Stitcherhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast Classifieds Collective by DBA - https://collective.cpa/ Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Blake breaks down how AI can help with cost segregation and explains why AI currently works best on tasks that take humans 2-5 minutes. Michael Burry is betting against AI companies, claiming they're manipulating earnings by stretching server depreciation from 3-4 years to 5-6 years, adding billions to their bottom lines. Also covered: Intuit's $100 million annual OpenAI deal to integrate QuickBooks and TurboTax into ChatGPT, new bank evidence in the Rippling corporate espionage case, and a survey showing 10% of adults are acting on AI tax advice despite error rates up to 50%. Sponsors OnPay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/onpay Relay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/relay Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas Chapters Show Notes Coming soon! Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastshttps://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcasthttp://cloudacctpod.link/Spotifyhttp://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Stitcherhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast Classifieds Collective by DBA - https://collective.cpa/ Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Earmark Media Presents a bonus episode of Earmark Podcast: Live from Boston on the final stop of the Advisory Amplified tour, Blake sits down with James Erving from Fathom and Chris Macksey from Prix Fixe Accounting to explore what advisory services really mean beyond bookkeeping and compliance. Chris shares how his firm requires advisory for all restaurant clients, using industry expertise and operational metrics to guide decisions on everything from menu pricing to expansion timing. The conversation covers the difference between delivering information versus being integral to decision-making, with insights on forecasting, benchmarking, and why visual KPIs help clients with low financial literacy understand their business performance. Meet Our Guests James Erving LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameserving/ Learn more about Fathom Official website: http://fathomhq.com Chris Macksey LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmacksey/ Learn more about Prix Fixe Accounting Official website: https://prixfixe.accountants/ Need CPE? Get CPE for this episode: https://earmark.app/c/2912 Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastshttps://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcasthttp://cloudacctpod.link/Spotifyhttp://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Stitcherhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast Classifieds Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page

Earmark Media Presents a bonus episode of Earmark Podcast: On the fifth stop of the Advisory Amplified tour in Atlanta, Blake sits down with Lisa Gilreath of Acuity and Valerie Heckman of OnPay to discuss what empathetic leadership actually looks like in an industry notorious for long hours and tight deadlines. The conversation covers everything from recognizing when team members are struggling to handling toxic high performers, with real talk about building slack into capacity planning and why unused PTO is a red flag. Lisa and Valerie share concrete steps for creating a culture where people feel supported enough to lean in when it matters most. Meet Our Guests Valerie Heckman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerieheckman/ Learn more about OnPay Official website: https://onpay.com Lisa Gilreath LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-gilreath-2ba506a/ Learn more about Sorren Official website: https://sorren.com/ Need CPE? Get CPE for this episode: https://earmark.app/c/2909 Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com Get in Touch Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info? Check out our new website - accountingconferences.com Limited edition shirts, stickers, and other necessities TeePublic Store: http://cloudacctpod.link/merch Subscribe http://cloudacctpod.link/ApplePodcastshttps://www.youtube.com/@TheAccountingPodcasthttp://cloudacctpod.link/Spotifyhttp://cloudacctpod.link/podchaserhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Stitcherhttp://cloudacctpod.link/Overcast Classifieds Want to get the word out about your newsletter, webinar, party, Facebook group, podcast, e-book, job posting, or that fancy Excel macro you just created? Let the listeners of The Accounting Podcast know by running a classified ad. Go here to create your classified ad: https://cloudacctpod.link/RunClassifiedAd Transcripts The full transcript for this episode is available by clicking on the Transcript tab at the top of this page